A couple of years ago I built my first system, with an AM3 socket and an Athlon II x3 processor. It went without a hitch and has been running with no problems since. Just this last week I put together a system with an LGA 1155 socket / i3 3220 processor. It wouldn't fire up! I must have tried many times after checking different connections. Even had a tech look at it. Either the motherboard was not transmitting juice at some point or the processor had a problem. Well, no sense beating a dead horse. For now I ordered a new motherboard which I will get in a couple of days. With the AM3, the processor pins fit into holes. I am freaking out about bending pins when I am installing the processor. This is my question: Are LGA1155 sockets so much more delicate with their pin on pin system? Then I noticed that the i3 3220 processor has some brown spots among the pins. Does it necessarily mean it is a lost cause? I bought it new and I only tried to fire it. How can it have brown spots? The cooler fan and PSU fan barely turned for a few seconds. Another thing that bugs me is that the heatsink/cooler for the AM3 was so much easier to install. The i3 3220, on the other hand, has those wiggling legs that don't really seat right. Would appreciate your tips and suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Even if you bent the pins on the CPU socket, the motherboard should still try to POST (ie, you'd hear the motherboard power on and most likely beep to indicate an error/failure and/or the screen would freeze at post with an error code displayed). I would go back and unplug/replug every power connection from the power supply. And also make sure your cases' power button is still connected to the pins on the motherboard correctly. If the computer doesn't post, it's most likely the motherboard or the power supply.

When I built my last PC inside a used case, it wouldn't start, and it ended up being one of the wires to the power switch itself had been yanked out... But I don't think that's likely.

When you say brown spots on the CPU, is it on the heat spreader or on the underside of the CPU? Pics?

Yes the pins on the 1155 sockets are very delicate. However, the CPU edge and surrounding support is keyed so there is only one way to seat it properly and I haven't encountered any problems. And yes I never liked those damn clips on the intel HSF. I like the AMD ones much much better. Whenever I have to use the Intel Stock HSF, I always quadruple check the install to make sure it is seated right.

Thank you all for your input. The PSU was to be excluded in this situation. I had connected an external one into the 4pin / 24pin sockets. Same results... No POST happened.And when I mentioned how fragile the pins are, I noticed after the fact that there were several bent pins on the socket itself (which were NOT bent at first). I guess I am wondering how these pins connect or interlock, between the socket (pins up) and the processor (pins down). Do they touch each other? Does each pin carry a different signal of some sort? As far as the brown spots on the CPU, they are on the down side (the side with the pins), not the top. Thanks again.

You can try to RMA the mobo, not sure if they'll take it back seeing as though you bent the pins. Next time be more careful and follow the installation manual that comes with the processor. Hopefully it didn't short circuit/fry your CPU, but you'll have to try a new mobo to figure that out.

Sorry to hear about the bent pins and situation - though the pins are pretty easy to bend if you ham-hand it to some degree.Not being accusatory but that is likely what happened, lack of experience/the 'feel' probably did it.

The easiest way to straighten the pins is with an empty, small mechanical pencil. Slip the hollow end over the bent pin and carefully straighten it.I would try to POST the setup after straightening what you can. The brown spot might have been a cross connect and crisped things a bit.

If still no go, it'll at least be easier to RMA with no bent pins. Good luck.

Thanks, DPete27 and thegst, for the latest. As indicated, I did order a new motherboard and am waiting for it. Hopefully things will go 'easy' this time and that the problem was with the mobo. I never expected that complication. And yes, I will work at straightening the pins. Appreciate the tip about the magnifying glass and the mechanical pencil.

gallicbear wrote:Thank you all for your input. The PSU was to be excluded in this situation. I had connected an external one into the 4pin / 24pin sockets. Same results... No POST happened.And when I mentioned how fragile the pins are, I noticed after the fact that there were several bent pins on the socket itself (which were NOT bent at first). I guess I am wondering how these pins connect or interlock, between the socket (pins up) and the processor (pins down). Do they touch each other? Does each pin carry a different signal of some sort? As far as the brown spots on the CPU, they are on the down side (the side with the pins), not the top. Thanks again.

Um, what "pins down" on the processor? The underside of an LGA1155 processor doesn't have pins. The processor has pads on the bottom that make contact with the spring pins in the socket. Here is a good set of pictures: http://techreport.com/review/18216/inte ... ocessors/3

If you've excluded the PSU, then you may as well try your luck returning the motherboard. If it is the pins, more than likely you will be given a hard time trying to RMA it. This is one of the first things they normally check when a new motherboard comes back DOA or the like. If you want your PC working as soon as possible, then you may want to contact the manufacturer and RMA it with them directly (as Newegg, for example, will just send the board straight back to you once bent pins are detected). Some motherboard manufacturers have specific bent-pin RMA policies (ie, ASRock with charge you a flat fee - around $50 - and then swap for a brand new board no questions asked). $50 is better than having to fork out for a brand new board and this route will get you up and running the fastest.

And socket 1155 or 2011 pins are a pain in the ass to work with if you're not used to them. Back in the good ol' days when CPUs had less pins and they were on the CPU itself, they were much more durable and easier to bend back into place. You could also mount the CPU in the socket vertically if, for some reason, you needed to remove/replace without taking out the motherboard. With 1155/2011 and the like, you basically have to lay the motherboard horizontally and be much more careful. Price of progress I guess...

Thanks, SecretSquirrel. My mistake-no the processor itself doesn't have pins at the bottom. Was getting confused. I appreciate your explanations and the link. Thanks, cynan for the tip about returning the mobo. It is a brandnew Asus. I'll look into it.

Captain Ned wrote:OK all, if you don't have info or assistance to post; don't post.

Thanks for listening.

I'm going to close my account. I just realized this was never really a community to discuss or chat, but more of a tactic to milk free tech support from users while the few owners make modest money from the advertisements.

gallicbear wrote:Thanks, SecretSquirrel. My mistake-no the processor itself doesn't have pins at the bottom. Was getting confused. I appreciate your explanations and the link. Thanks, cynan for the tip about returning the mobo. It is a brandnew Asus. I'll look into it.

I figured as much, but I also had this vision in my head of you trying to line up a CPU with actual pins on it with all those pins in the socket --

gallicbear wrote:Thanks, SecretSquirrel. My mistake-no the processor itself doesn't have pins at the bottom. Was getting confused. I appreciate your explanations and the link. Thanks, cynan for the tip about returning the mobo. It is a brandnew Asus. I'll look into it.

Going through newegg reviews, some people received motherboards with bent pins already. I've never experienced that myself, but nowadays whenever I buy a new intel mobo, i always check the socket for bent pins first. I also keep the socket protector in a safe place and always use it when swapping out CPUs. I remember when I got my first 1156 board, the sleeve on my shirt somehow got caught on the motherboard socket. Yea it was like velcro.

gallicbear wrote:Thank you all for your input. The PSU was to be excluded in this situation. I had connected an external one into the 4pin / 24pin sockets. Same results... No POST happened.And when I mentioned how fragile the pins are, I noticed after the fact that there were several bent pins on the socket itself (which were NOT bent at first). I guess I am wondering how these pins connect or interlock, between the socket (pins up) and the processor (pins down). Do they touch each other? Does each pin carry a different signal of some sort? As far as the brown spots on the CPU, they are on the down side (the side with the pins), not the top. Thanks again.

I guess one third carries power, one third PCIe lanes, and the last third memory data and address buses. They don't interlock, just gently touch the cpu conductive pads.

If you are stressed it is very easy to bend pins! I did with my 2011 motherblard but I discovered it before I fastened the cpu and bent them back. The system has been fine, even overclocks to 4.5ghz but i only have a single graphics card.

cynan wrote:Even if you bent the pins on the CPU socket, the motherboard should still try to POST ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test says that for POST to do its magic - a CPU is required. That is - the BIOS needs to verify its self, and for that it needs a CPU. If there is a bent pin - then there is no CPU, which means there will be maybe lights, but that's about it...

No idea if its repairable, though... Someone said before me that if its noticed before power up - it may just work!